Anna Patterson The origin of black theater originates from the culturally rich history of Africa. Much of the theater history unfortunately was unrecorded or erased. In the beginning of recorded black theater history, African - Americans appeared in plays performed by whites, but with little significance or dignity afforded them in the roles they played. In 1776, a visceral portrayal of African - Americans was shown through the play The Fall of British Tyranny, a play written by John Leacock. The first black playwright soon followed; William Wells Brown was an historian, lecturer, and playwright. He wrote “a novel, a drama, and a book of travel”. His satirical play The Escape was unfortunately never staged. Meanwhile, a couple black tragedians were breaking barriers by performing lead roles in Shakespeare’s famous tragedies. The African Grove Theater was founded by one such man, James Hewett, an Indian black. Ira Aldridge also performed Shakespeare and found critical acclaim and much success in many countries around the world. According to some, “Tom Shows” helped to incite the Civil War that eventually led to the abolition of slavery in the United States, as they promoted anti-slavery ideals. Examples of “Tom Shows”: The Branded Hand, The Captured Slave, and the stage version of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. At the end of the 19th and beginning of 20th century, whites started to create “farcical caricatures” of African - Americans through “black musicals”. Popular black musicals included Creole Show,The Octoroons and Trip to Coontown. Countless musical comedies were also created and produced on Broadway. 1920’s Harlem presented one of the most famous moments in black history; the famous Harlem Renaissance. It was a time for an “awakening” for black culture. Artists and intellectuals found there great awakening during this time. Serious black productions were produced in Harlem and on Broadway and helped shape what is American theater. Several prominent theaters were opening during this “Harlem renaissance” including The Crescent Theater and the Lafayette theater. With the 1930’s came the Great Depression, and this affected theaters in Harlem, but not the playwrights, and this was time of much creativity. One such play that received success on broadway was The Green Pastures. The 1950’s came with new promise for black theater. Many black plays and playhouses opened, but less were successful on Broadway. Several universities including Virginia State College, Shaw University, Howard University, Morgan College, and Lincoln University offered classes in theater. Black theater has continued to evolve in recent history and will continue to change in the future, giving us rich pieces of theater to enjoy and study now and long into the future. I would not describe Fires in the Mirror as a black play. Although it deals with issues related to the black community, I think putting it solely in the black theater category would not do it justice. It deals with issues surrounding two people groups that have faced much oppression throughout history.
The origin of black theater originates from the culturally rich history of Africa. Much of the theater history unfortunately was unrecorded or erased. In the beginning of recorded black theater history, African - Americans appeared in plays performed by whites, but with little significance or dignity afforded them in the roles they played. In 1776, a visceral portrayal of African - Americans was shown through the play The Fall of British Tyranny, a play written by John Leacock.
The first black playwright soon followed; William Wells Brown was an historian, lecturer, and playwright. He wrote “a novel, a drama, and a book of travel”. His satirical play The Escape was unfortunately never staged.
Meanwhile, a couple black tragedians were breaking barriers by performing lead roles in Shakespeare’s famous tragedies. The African Grove Theater was founded by one such man, James Hewett, an Indian black. Ira Aldridge also performed Shakespeare and found critical acclaim and much success in many countries around the world.
According to some, “Tom Shows” helped to incite the Civil War that eventually led to the abolition of slavery in the United States, as they promoted anti-slavery ideals. Examples of “Tom Shows”: The Branded Hand, The Captured Slave, and the stage version of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
At the end of the 19th and beginning of 20th century, whites started to create “farcical caricatures” of African - Americans through “black musicals”. Popular black musicals included Creole Show,The Octoroons and Trip to Coontown. Countless musical comedies were also created and produced on Broadway.
1920’s Harlem presented one of the most famous moments in black history; the famous Harlem Renaissance. It was a time for an “awakening” for black culture. Artists and intellectuals found there great awakening during this time. Serious black productions were produced in Harlem and on Broadway and helped shape what is American theater. Several prominent theaters were opening during this “Harlem renaissance” including The Crescent Theater and the Lafayette theater.
With the 1930’s came the Great Depression, and this affected theaters in Harlem, but not the playwrights, and this was time of much creativity. One such play that received success on broadway was The Green Pastures.
The 1950’s came with new promise for black theater. Many black plays and playhouses opened, but less were successful on Broadway. Several universities including Virginia State College, Shaw University, Howard University, Morgan College, and Lincoln University offered classes in theater.
Black theater has continued to evolve in recent history and will continue to change in the future, giving us rich pieces of theater to enjoy and study now and long into the future.
I would not describe Fires in the Mirror as a black play. Although it deals with issues related to the black community, I think putting it solely in the black theater category would not do it justice. It deals with issues surrounding two people groups that have faced much oppression throughout history.